Smoke eliminator



Aug. 15, 1961 A. w. BEASLEY 2,996,143

SMOKE ELIMINATOR Filed April l8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 14. W. IBEASLE-Y FIE?! BY ATTOPA/EY Aug. 15, 1961 A. w. BEASLEY 2,996,143

SMOKE ELIMINA'I'OR Filed April 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

A. W. BEASLEY F 1 E'. Z

United tates Patent fie 2,996,143 Patented Aug. 15, 1961 2,996,143 SMOKE ELIMINATOR Albert W. Beasley, 2624 NW. 1st St., Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 22,743 7 Claims. (Cl. 183-6) This invention relates generally to improvements in the art of eliminating the combustible portions of gas exhausting into the atmosphere, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a device for eliminating smoke.

As it is well known in the art, an ever-present problem for many years has been the elimination of smoke, particularly in urban areas, to minimize the deposition of soot on buildings and the like. In more recent years, it has been found that the combustible portions of various types of exhaust gases, such as exhaust gases from automobiles, as well as smoke, contribute materially to the occurrence of smog in some urban areas. Prior to the present invention, no completely satisfactory solution to this problem has been provided.

It is common practice to utilize an electrostatic type of smoke eliminator in relatively large smokestacks which function to remove particles of carbon from the smokestream and therefore minimize the deposition of soot on surrounding buildings and the like. However, such electrostatic devices are expensive and require frequent maintenance for satisfactory performance. It may also be noted that a substantial amount of development work has been done in recent years for devices to eliminate the combustible portions of motor vehicle exhaust gases. These latter devices have utilized what may be considered a secondary combustion of the exhaust gases, but such devices are expensive to manufacture, as well as being expensive to operate.

The present invention contemplates a novel apparatus for burning or eliminating the combustible portions of a gas stream wherein combustion of the gas stream is maintained without the continuous supply of a sep arate fuel. I have found that when the gas stream is cooled prior to the secondary combustion step, the secondary combustion will be maintained solely by the combustible portions of the gas stream after such combustion has once been initiated. The present apparatus includes a combustion chamber in which combustion is initiated by a separate fuel supply while the gas stream is bypassed around the combustion chamber. Once the combustion chamber becomes heated, the gas stream is directed through the combustion chamber and combustion will be maintained, even though the separate fuel supply is discontinued.

Broadly stated, the present invention may be defined as an apparatus for eliminating the combustibleportions of a gas stream, comprising a heat exchanger for cooling the stream, means forming a combustion chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end, means for directing the cooled stream from the heat exchanger into the upstream end of the combustion chamber, means for supplying air' to the combustion chamber for mixing with the cooled stream, and means for igniting the cooled air-gas stream mixture in the combustion chamber.

An important object of this invention is to reduce the smog in urban areas.

Another object of this invention is to minimize the deposition of soot on buildings and the like in urban areas.

A further object of this invention is to economically and efliciently eliminate the combustible portions of gases being exhausted into the atmosphere.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for eliminating the combustible portions of a gas stream being exhausted into the atmosphere, wherein combustion of the gas stream is maintained, without the continuous use of a separate fuel supply.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which automatically provides a combustible mixture of air and a gas stream being exhausted into the atmosphere, whereby combustion of the gas stream is easily maintained.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for eliminating the combustible portions of a gas stream being exhausted into the atmosphere which is simple in construction, may be economically manufactured and operated, and which will have a long service life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with portions of the apparatus shown schematically to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 generally designates an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and designed to eliminate the combustible portions of smoke being exhausted through a Smokestack 12. The apparatus 10 includes an elongated housing 14 having radially-spaced flanges 16 and 18 on the lower end 20 thereof to fit over the upper end of the smokestack 12 and support the housing 14 concentrically with respect to the smokestack 12. It will be understood, however, that the housing 14 may be supported on the Smokestack 12 in any desired fashion, it only being required that the smoke flowing through the Smokestack 12 be directed upwardly into the lower end 20 of the housing 14. l

A tubular baffle 22 is suitably supported concentrically in the lower end portion 20 of the housing 14 and is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 24'through the side walls thereof. The lower end 26 of the baflie 22 is open to receive smoke flowing upwardly through the Smokestack 12, and the upper end 28 of the bafiie 22 is closed, such that smoke entering the baffle 22 will be directed outwardly'through the apertures 24 toward the walls of the housing 14. When the apparatus 10 is used for eliminating'the combustible portions, of smoke having a high solids content, I prefer to support a spray pipe 30 in the housing 14 directly above the cylindrical bailie 22 for spraying water onto the 'bafiie 22 and washing the solids from the apertures 24 when the apertures 24 become partially clogged. The spray pipe 30.may be of any desired configuration and is'connected by a conduit 32' extending through the walls of the housing 14 to a suitable water supply (not shown).

A suitable heat exchanger 34 is provided around the housing 14 from the lower end 20 of the housing upwardly'to a position above the bafile 22 to cool the adjacent walls of the housing 14, which in turn cools the smoke being directed outwardly from the baffle 22 through the apertures 24. The heat exchanger 34 may take any desired form, such as a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced fins suitably secured to the walls of the housing 14 and formed of a metal having good heat-conducting properties. When fins are used, no energy is required for cooling the smokestream, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

A horizontal baffle 36 extends across the housing 14 in upwardly-spaced relation from the tubular baflle 22 to provide what may be considered a collection chamber 37 above the battle 22 and control the flow path of the cooled smokestream. A suitable boot 38 extends downwardly through the horizontal baflle 36 adjacent one side of the housing 14 and has an opening 40 in one side thereof positioned below the bafl'le 36 to receive the cooled smokestream. Also, I prefer to secure a fan blade 42 in the opening 40 for acceler ting the flow of the smoke from the collection chamber 37 into and upwardly through the boot 38. The fan blade 42 is suitably driven by an electric motor or the like 44 which may be mounted on the side of the housing 14 by a suitable bracket 46. The shaft 48 extending from the motor 44 to the fan blade 42 extends through mating apertures (not shown) in the walls of the housing 14 and the boot 38, but no seal around the shaft 48 is ordinarily required.

Another baffle plate 50 is secured horizontally across the housing 14 in upwardly-spaced relation from the bafile 36 to assist in controlling the flow of the cooled smokestream through the apparatus and to support a tubular member 52 in the central portion of the housing 14. It will also be noted that the battle plate 50 extends over the top of the boot 38, but has an opening 54 therein at the upper end of the boot 38 for purposes to be described. The tubular member 52 forms what may be considered a primary combustion chamber 56 in the apparatus and has a diameter less than the diameter of the adjacent portions of the housing 14 to provide an annular space or passageway 58 extending upwardl from the bafile 50 around the member 52. A gas burner 59 having a flared discharge 60 is suitably supported in the central portion of the tubular member 52 and is extended along the longitudinal center line of the member 52, with the discharge end 60 of the burner facing the downstream end 61 of the member 52. A conical deflector 62 is supported by a bolt 63 or the like in a position to extend into the outlet 60 of the burner 59. The deflector 62 has a plurality of openings 64 therein to disperse a flame originating at the burner 59, as will be described. A conduit 66 extends from the burner 59 through the walls of the member 52 and the housing 14 into communication with an air duct 68, which will be described below. It is suflicient to note here that air from the duct 68 is directed through the conduit 66 and is mixed with fuel gas being fed into the conduit 66 from a supply line 70 to provide a combustible mixture discharging from the end 60 of the burner 59. Also, a damper 72 is preferably positioned in the conduit 66 adjacent the duct 68 to control the amount of air being directed through the conduit 66 for mixture with the fuel gas fed through the line 70. The mixture of air and fuel gas discharging from the end 60 of the burner 59 is ignited by a suitable electrical igniter 74, such as a spark plug, secured in the wall of the member 52 between the burner 59 and the discharge end 61 of the member 52. It will be apparent that the igniter 74 extends outwardly through the walls of the housing 14 for connection with a suitable source of current (not shown).

The air duct 68 is supplied with a substantial quantity of fresh air by means of a suitable fan or blower 76 supported at the outer end 78 of the duct 68 in any suitable manner, such as by means of a bracket 80 secured to the lower surface of the duct 68, or any other suitable support. The inner end 82 of the air duct 68 is secured in a mating aperture in the wall of the housing 14 to direct the air supplied by the blower 76 into the annular passageway 58 around the combustion chamber 56. A damper 83 is preferably supported in the air duct 68. A portion of the air in the annular passageway 58 is directed into the combustion chamber 56 by openings 84 formed in longitudinally and circumferentially spaced relation in the walls of the tubular member 52. The openings 84 are preferably formed in such a manner that air directed therethrough will be biased toward the downstream end 61 of the tubular member 52, but since this air is injected into the combustion chamber 56 around the entire periphery of the combustion chamber, the air will be thoroughly mixed with any gas flowing through the combustion chamber 56. It should also be noted that the openings 84 are formed in the walls of the tubular member 52 only from the portion of the tubular member adjacent the burner 59 to the downstream end 61 of the tubular member.

A bypass conduit 86 extends alongside the housing 14 opposite the combustion chamber 56 and has the rpper end 88 thereof extending through the walls of the housing 14 into a mating opening in the tubular member 52 adjacent the downstream end 61 of the combustion chamber 56. The opposite end portion 90 of the bypass conduit 86 is extended through the walls of the housing 14 to an opening 92 formed in one side of the boot 38 directly below the bafile 50. A control valve 94 in the form of a plate is pivotally secured by means of a suitable hinge or the like 96 to the baffle 50 in such a position that the valve may be moved into a closed position over either the opening 54 or the opening 92 to control the flow of the cooled smokestream, as will be described in more detail below. The valve 94 is operated by a suitable handle 98 extending through the walls of the housing 14 as indicated in FIG. 1.

The diameter of the housing 14 is enlarged at a point opposite the downstream end 61 of the tubular member 52 to accommodate a second tubular member 100 which forms what may be considered a secondary combustion chamber 102. The lower or upstream end 104 of the member 100 is connected to the downstream end 61 of the tubular member 52 by means of a perforated tubular connector 106, and the diameter of the tubular member 100 is less than the diameter of the adjacent portion of the housing 14 to form a continuation of the annular passageway 58 to the discharge end 108 of the apparatus 10. A plurality of openings 110 are provided in spaced relation around the secondary combustion chamber 102 which cooperate with the apertures in the member 106 for directing an adequate supply of fresh air into the combustion chamber 102, as will be described. It may also be noted that the openings 110 are preferably formed in the same manner as the openings 84 in the tubular member 52 to direct air flowing through the openings 110 generally in a direction toward the discharge end 108 of the apparatus 10. A comically-shaped deflector 112 is secured along the center line of the tubular member 100 by suitable braces 114 with the smaller end 116 of the deflector pointed toward the upstream end 104 of the tubular member 100. The deflector 112 operates to bathe gases flowing into the upstream end 104 of the secondary combustion chamber 102 in an outward direction to facilitate the mixture of these gases with air flowing into the combustion chamber through the openings 110 and the apertures in the member 106.

Operation As previously indicated, smoke being discharged through the Smokestack 12 will enter the lower, open end 26 of the tubular baffle 22 and will be directed radially outward through the apertures 24 into contact with the adjacent portions of the walls of the housing 14. Since the fins 34 continually radiate heat into the surrounding atmosphere, the smoke passing along the inner periphery of the housing 14 opposite the fins 34 will be cooled. As also previously indicated, the smokestream may be cooled to any desired extent during flow thereof along the inner periphery of the housing 14 adjacent the end 20 of the housing. The cooled smokestream is directed into the boot 38 by the baffle 36 and by operation of the fan 42.

When the apparatus 10 is first being placed in operation to eliminate the combustible portions of the smokestream, the valve handle 98 is turned to move the valve 94 upwardly in closing relation over the opening 54 at the upper end of the boot 38. Therefore, the cooled smokestream is directed through the opening 92 and the bypass conduit 86 into the combustion chamber 56 adjacent the downstream end 61 of the combustion chamber. The smoke will therefore not be directed through the major portion of the combustion chamber 56. While the cooled smokestream is being bypassed around the major portion of the combustion chamber 56, air and fuel gas are passed through the conduit 66 and mixed in the burner 59 for discharge through the discharge end 60 of the burner around and through the deflector 62 toward the downstream end 61 of the combustion chamber 56. The igniter 74 is operated as soon as the air and fuel gas mixture is being discharged from the burner 59 to ignite this mixture adjacent the discharge end 60 of the burner. The deflector 62 disperses the resulting flame across the combustion chamber 56. It will also be understood that the blower 76 has been placed in operation to pass a large supply of fresh air through the annular passageway 58 and through the openings 84, as well as through the openings 110 and through the apertured member 106 into the secondary combustion chamber 102.

The combustion provided by the fuel gas and air mixture around the deflector 62 will quickly heat the combustion chamber 56 to a temperature sufiiciently high to burn the combustible portions of the smokestream. It may be noted, however, that since the smokestream is being bypassed through the bypass conduit 86, the smokestream will not interfere with the ignition of the fuel gas and air mixture discharging from the burner 59.

When the primary combustion chamber 56 is heated to the combustion temperature of the combustible portions of the smokestream, and while a fuel gas and air mixture is being burned at the burner 59, the Valve 94 is moved over the opening 92 into the position shown in FIG. 2 to direct the cooled smokestream through the opening 54 into the upstream end 118 of the combustion chamber 56. The smoke flows around the burner 59, as well as around and through the deflector 62 into contact with the flame provided by the burner to ignite the combustible portions of the smokestream. It will also be noted that a suflicient quantity of air is supplied to the combustion chamber 56 through the openings 84 to mix with the smokestream and provide a combustible mixture of air with the combustible portions of the smokestream. Once the combustible portions of the smokestream being directed around the burner 60 are ignited, the fuel gas being supplied through the conduit 70 may be discontinued and the damper 72 closed. The temperature of the combustion chamber 56, in combination with the fresh air being supplied through the openings 84, will maintain combustion of the smokestream in the combustion chamber 56. It will also be understood that the igniter 74 is utilized only to start combustion of the fuel gas and air discharging from the burner 59, hence the igniter 7 4 is not utilized during the major portion of the time the apparatus 10 is in operation.

All of the gases discharging from the downstream end 61 of the primary combustion chamber 56, which will include products of the combustion occurring in the chamber 56, a quantity of non-combustible gases and at least a small portion of the combustible portion of the smokestream which was not burned in the primary combustion chamber 56, will be directed into the upstream end 104 of the secondary combustion chamber 102. These gases will be deflected outwardly by the deflector 112 for further mixing with fresh air being supplied through the apertured member 106 and through the openings 110, such that the remaining combustible portions of the smokestream will be mixed with a combustible ratio of air to complete combustion of the smokestream in the secondary combustion chamber. All of the products of combustion are discharged through the end 108 of the housing 14, and these products of combustion :6 a will be in the form of non-irritating and non-contaminating hot gases.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the ratio of the air to the combustible portion of the smokestream will depend upon the composition of the combustible portions of the smokestream being eliminated. The size of the apparatus 10, including the quantity of air supplied by the blower 76, may be easily designed to provide the desired mixture of air with the combustible portions of the smokestream to provide a combustible mixture. When the proper mixture is obtained, combustion of the combustible portions of the smokestream will be complete and no solid or contaminating material will be discharged from the apparatus 10. However, regardless of the composition of the combustible portions of the gas or smokestream being eliminated, I have found that the cooling of the stream upstream of the combustion greatly facilitates the obtaining of the proper combustible mixture with an economical apparatus of practical size.

When the apparatus 10 has been in use for a substantial period of time, the apertures 24 in the tubular bafile 22 may tend to become clogged, depending upon the type of gas or smoke being handled. When such clogging occurs, fresh Water is fed to the pipe 32 and discharged through the spray pipe 30 onto the outer surface of the tubular member 22 to wash the material from the apertures 24.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present apparatus may be utilized to minimize the deposition of soot on buildings and the like in urban areas, as Well as being useful in reducing smog in urban areas. The apparatus will eliminate the combustible portions of gases being exhausted into the atmosphere, and combustion of the combustible portions of the exhausting gas is maintained, without the necessity of continuously using a separate fuel supply. The apparatus provides a combustible portion of air with the combustible portion of the exhausting gas stream being treated to provide a complete burning of these combustible portions. It will further be apparent that the present apparatus is simple in construction, may be economically manufactured and operated, and will have a long service life.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts or elements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for eliminating the combustible portions of a gas stream being exhausted into the atmosphere, comprising a heat exchanger for cooling the stream, means forming a combustion chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end, means for directing the stream from the heat exchanger into the upstream end of the combustion chamber, means for supplying air to the combustion chamber for mixture with the cooled stream, means for igniting the cooled gas stream-air mixture in the combustion chamber, means forming a secondary combustion chamber communicating with the downstream end of the first-mentioned combustion chamber, and means for supplying additional air to the stream in the secondary combustion chamber.

2. Apparatus for eliminating the combustible portions of a gas stream being exhausted into the atmosphere, comprising an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, means for directing the stream into the first end of the housing, a heat exchanger in heatexchanging relation with the first end of the housing for cooling the stream entering the housing, a tubular member secured concentrically in the central portion of the housing forming a combustion chamber therein and an annular chamber between the tubular member and the housing, bafiles for directing the stream through the tubular member, a fan, a conduit providing communication between the fan and said annular chamber for supplying air to said annular chamber, said tubular member having a plurality of openings in spaced relation around the walls thereof for mixing air with the cooled stream in the tubular member, a supply of fuel, means for burning the fuel in the tubular member for a limited period of time for heating the tubular member and igniting the cooled stream-air mixture, a bypass conduit communieating with the housing adjacent the heat exchanger and with the end of the tubular member remote from the heat exchanger, and control means in the housing to alternately direct the cooled stream into the tubular member and into said bypass conduit.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said heat exchanger is in the form of fins secured in spaced relation around the first end of the elongated housing.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said heat exchanger is arranged to cool the walls of the elongated housing adjacent the first end thereof, and characterized further to include a perforated cylinder secured in the first end of the elongated housing to receive the gas stream and disperse the stream outwardly against the cooled walls of the elongated housing.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for burning the fuel comprises a burner secured concen trically in the tubular member and facing in the direc- 8 tion of flow of the cooled stream through the tubular member, a perforated conically-shaped deflector sup ported in the tubular member in a position to disperse the flame provided by the burner, means for mixing air with the fuel in the burner, and an electrical igniter secured to the tubular member adjacent the burner.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 characterized further to include a second tubular member secured in the elongated housing in end-to-end relation with the firstmentioned tubular member, said second tubular member forming a continuation of said annular chamber and having a plurality of apertures in the walls thereof for mixing air with the burning air-stream mixture discharging from the first-mentioned tubular member for further combustion of the stream.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 characterized further to include a comically-shaped baflle in the second tubular member for deflecting the burning air-stream mixture outwardly against the walls of the second tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,829,730 Barkelew Apr. 8, 1958 2,829,731 Clayton Apr. 8, 1958 2,889,002 Kocee June 2, 1959 

